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NB Model.) I H I J. L. HIGHBARGBR.

' Corpse Lifter. ,No. 236,949. Pafented Jan. '25, I881.

WIiTJVE SS-E V I. 4% v IJV'VEJVTOR K; 1

a I TTORWEYS N. PETERS, PHOTOVLITHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON. D.C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OHN L. HIGHBARGER, OF SHARPSBURG, MARYLAND.

CORPSE-LI FTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,949, dated January25, 1881,

Application filed September 4, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L.HIGHBARGER, a citizen ot the United States,residing at Sharpsburg, in the countyof Washington and State ofMaryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCorpse-Lifters and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to letters orfigures of reference marked thereon, which forms a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to an improved implement for handlingcorpses,.and it is designed more especially for undertakers use whenitis desirable to move a corpse or place it in a cofiin; and thisinvention consists in providing a bar or rod with hooks, to which can beattached spring bands or straps and a flexible hood or head-rest; auditalso consists in providing the head-rest with a U-shaped support, aswill be hereinafter set forth.

On the annexed drawing, which is a perspective view of my invention,Arepresentsapole or rod, which may be hinged in the center, and isprovided with knobs or handles, which may be removed for the purpose ofputting on or removing the double hooks B B, which are provided witheyes which fit over the rod A, and can be adjusted laterally thereon.

The bands U 0, which support the trunk of the corpse, I prefer to makeof thin tempered metal, so that they can be readily slipped under thebody, and when not in use they can be coiled up in a small space. Thesebands are provided with holes or other means of attaching them tothedouble hooks B B.

(No model.)

It is evident that the bands 0 (J could be made of canvas or otherflexible material; but if so constructed they would not be as easilyplaced under the corpse, and would prove a ready means of conveyingdisease after they had been used to carry the body of a person who haddied of a contagious disease.

The head-rest D consists of a rigid U-shaped support, d, which isprovided with eye-rods e for attaching it to the double hooks, and aflexible hood which may be made either of woven wire or cloth.

When it is desirable to move a corpse the hood D is placed under thehead and the bands are slipped under the body, either laterally orlongitudinally. Thehead-rest and bands are then attached to the hooks,when the body can be carried by two persons without touching it.

What I claim is l. The means hereinbefore described for handling andcarrying corpses, consisting of the bar A, the hooks B, metallic bands0, and the flexible head-rest D, composed of the U- shaped support witheye-rods and the woven material, substantially as described.

2. In adevice for handling corpses, a flexible head-rest, composed ofthe U-shaped support with eye-rods and the woven material, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN L. HIGHBARGER.

Witnesses GEORGE HIGHBARGER, HEZEKIAH THOMAS.

